VALLAURIS: Workers were busily returning a beach in southern France to its previous condition on Monday after the premature departure of Saudi King Salman, whose commandeering of the coastline had caused uproar among locals.

A few sun-lovers were replanting their parasols while the workers were dismantling controversial constructions, including an elevator from the beach to the king’s grandiose villa, built only a fortnight ago for the royal visit.

King Salman made an early exit on Sunday from the Cote d’Azur only eight days into what was initially billed as a month-long vacation.

At least half of his 1,000-strong delegation left with him from Nice airport to the Moroccan city of Tangiers, local officials said.

An official source in Riyadh denied the king had any problem with media reports about his controversial Riviera vacation and had travelled to Morocco “as per the holiday programme”.

Published in Dawn, August 4th, 2015

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